What FpK Means in Fantasy Baseball

How FpK Helps You Evaluate Pitchers

Again, it is critical not to use this alone.  For instance Paul Skenes, arguably the best pitcher in the National League, had a 60 FpK.  He had a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts.  FpK links to several categories that matter in fantasy baseball. Looking at a player’s makeup and then using this as a tiebreaker is the way to do it for this important metric.  

For the most part, pitchers who throw first pitch strikes get ahead in the count more often, which helps them strike out more hitters being able to use their best pitches. When you see a pitcher with a high FpK, there is usually a strong chance their strikeout rate will be strong and remain strong.

FpK also ties closely to walk prevention. Walks hurt your WHIP and often lead to rallies. Pitchers with high FpK can throw more of their best pitches and force hitters to chase, limiting walks. 

Another benefit of FpK is pitch efficiency. When pitchers get ahead early, their pitch counts are lower. Lower pitch counts help pitchers stay in games longer, which increases chances for wins and quality starts. 

There are times when you should ignore FpK. Early in the year, sample sizes are tiny, so do not overreact. Relievers can have wild swings due to limited innings. Also, matchups matter. A pitcher facing a dominant lineup may naturally be more cautious and throw fewer first pitch strikes. Use FpK as a guide, not a rule.

Remember to combine FpK with velocity, pitch mix, workload expectations, Expected Fielding Independent Pitching (xFIP), strikeout per walk (K-BB%) and swinging strike percentage (SwK).

Conclusion

FpK is the easiest stat to understand.  Every one who has ever picked up a ball has had their father or coach say “throw strikes.”  That is a real thing and has real value even at the major league level.  Greg Maddux, one of baseball’s best pitchers of all time, faced over 21,000 hitters.  He only went to a 3-0 count 310 times and 177 of those were intentional walks.  His success was clearly based on throwing strikes.  His FpK was approximately 63.

People Also Ask

What is a good FpK in fantasy baseball?
Most solid starters sit near mid 60 percent. Anything above 70 percent is excellent.

Why does FpK matter for fantasy pitching?
It connects directly to strikeouts, walks, pitch counts, and deeper outings.

How can beginners use FpK in a fantasy draft?
Use it to compare similar pitchers, pick safe depth, and find breakout candidates.

Does FpK predict pitcher breakouts?
High FpK often shows improved command and rising strikeout potential.

Should I use FpK for relievers?
It helps, but sample sizes are small so focus more on strikeouts and walk rates.